Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:26 pm

I have a well with water at the 70-75" depth, this is an old well and I'm not sure about the volume I'll get out of it. My intent is to use it for watering trees, and other plants. The problem is 70" is too deep for a hand powered cistern or shallow water pump, when you go to a deep well pump the prices go into the $400-600 range. Does anyone have ideas or sources for an economical hand pump capable of a 75" suction head? BTW there's no electricity available at the site.

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:00 pm

Not sure where to find them, but the old time hand pumps people used to have before running water would handle it. They had a pipe with a rod inside it and a piston that went down in the well. One word of warning though, it takes a lot of pumping to raise enough water to take care of trees. A LOT of pumping. You might look into some of the places that supply hardware to Amish communities.

Years ago we had a jet pump that came with a pulley you could put on it and drive with a gasoline motor if your electricity was off. I don't know if they still make them or not.

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:52 pm

I hadn't seen the Northern Tool gas power pump before and it could have possibilities. I'd still like to find a hand pump though; I think it's out there, I just have to find it.

The trees I'm watering are young, once they're established I'll only water them during dry spells and when I fertlize. There are a few other plants that would appreciate a drink and not require a lot of water. As you said, it's still a lot of pumping but it's a trade off with hauling water.

Thanks for the feedback.

Eikel

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:00 am

Cumberland General Store. I think they are on line. They have hand pumps. Again not cheap by the time you figure in the pump, cylinder, platform and pipe.

I used a 2 wheeled trailer and several 55 gallon barrels to haul water to trees. Filled the barrels from a stream. Couldn't find anything cheaper - just more labor intensive.

If you have a surface water source - 12 volt battery operated pumps are cheap. Barrels can be rigged to empty out the bottom through valve and hose.

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:37 am

Eugene I looked at the Cumberland General Store website and they appeared to only carry cistern or shallow well pumps. It was hard to tell on a couple as I couldn't locate the technical specs. They did have a different pump, it was advertised as capable of filling overhead water storage. I don't have surface water available yet, hopefully in the not to distant future.

Thanks for the feedbackEikel

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:48 am

Search the web using the terms "well pump cylinders". You will get a lot of hits and good information. Hold your breath when you see the prices.

The prices do not include installation.

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:58 pm

I haven't tried that particular search but will this evening. This is an old well with an unknown flow so the pumps with proud prices aren't an option. I've even considered using a shallow well pump with a check valve half way down; not sure if I'd gain a siphon effect or degraded by a hydraulic lock/restriction. I was hoping someone had run into this problem before and had a ready made solution but ... that's the way it goes sometimes. I can still haul water and it'll motivate me to get more inventive; who knows what Rube Goldberg contraption might come out of this.

thanks again for the feedback

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:36 pm

Dave, I've found anything with deep well in the title means you need deep pockets; which I'm just not willing to put much money into an unproven well. In part of my research I've come across a group called "Hyromissions International," they're missionaries trying to improve the living conditions in Africa. A key part of they're mission is providing access to clean potable water. With limited supply and technical support in the remote areas, they had to develop a simplistic pump that was maintainable with limited resources. Most of the components come straight out of Home Depot/Lowes, the pump body consists of a 2"x 24" piece of pvc pipe. Unless someone has a better idea, I'm thinking the best solution for my problem maybe an adaptation of their basic concept. Who know, if I can get a functioning design, the second version might include a Cub as a power unit (if you're dreamin', you might as well dream big).

Bob

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:48 pm

eikel maybe you can get some one to give you and old windmill?

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:19 pm

daddydip, While it can feel pretty breezy at 12 degrees (like today), the well is surrounded by woods and the wind isn't that reliable. I'm not sure a windmill would receive adequate breezes to work properly.

Eikel

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:26 pm

Look at an Air pump. I'm not sure technically what they are called but you can find plenty of them on youtube. It uses a small electric air compressor, the air runs down a tube and and back up the end about a foot. It bubbles the water to the surface. Works at nearly any depth and as cheap as the pump and hose. I'll forward some links later from home. I have a windmill and well on our farm, it is a very expensive route and just because the wind blows alot doesn't mean it will pump. My windmill never stops spinning but when you engage the pump rod it takes a spring wind to pump water.

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:59 am

I'm not an old guy, but the old handle powered pumps usually had a leather gasket. You usually had to dump some water down the pipe to get the leather to swell and "prime the pump". The pump used the prime water to create suction and draw up the water.A check valve only works if no dirt or rust gets in there. (not long before that happens)

If it were me, I would go see a local well driller and ask to buy a used or rebuilt electric deep well pump. (pump goes at bottom of the well) Put a 220v outlet on the end and connect it to a generator to move the water. (probably needs 15-20amps to run a well)

Re: Ideas for an economical hand pump for a 75' well

Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:08 am

Since this thread is over four years old I hope Eickel got it going by now!